“We are thrilled to have Joe as part of our staff,” Marbut said. “His experience as a recruiting coordinator in the Pac-12 and an area scout for five years sets him apart among coaches in the Northwest. I have never been around as gifted of coach when it comes to catching and hitting.”

Ross will be the Cougars’ recruiting coordinator and work with the hitters and catchers. A native of St. Paul, Minn., Ross brings 30 years of successful coaching experience to Pullman. He worked the last five years as a scout for the Seattle Mariners.

“I love the relationship with players and coaches” Ross said. “I am excited to be here and have the opportunity to once again compete and win games.”

From 1980-86, Ross was the head coach at Wisconsin-River Falls where he led the Falcons to back-to-back NAIA District 14 titles (1984-85) and was named district coach of the year twice. During the 1980-83 seasons, he was also the head coach in the Hoofdklasse Baseball League in the Netherlands.

Ross left Wisconsin-River Falls to become the head coach at Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minn., and served in that role from 1987-92. The Lions captured six league championships, three state titles, four regional crowns, two NJCAA district flags and appeared in the NJCAA World Series twice (1998, 1990).

Ross posted a 180-38 record at Normandale and received three Minnesota Community College Conference, four NJCAA Region 13 and two NJCAA North Central Coach of the Year honors.

From 1990-92, Ross also spent time as a coach with the United State Baseball Federation. An assistant for the Olympic Festival team in 1990 and the Junior National squad in 1991, Ross skippered the 1992 Junior National team to a silver medal at the World Games in Mexico.

Ross joined the NCAA Division I ranks when he became the top assistant coach at Washington in 1993. Elevated to associate head coach in 1997, Ross spent 17 seasons with the Huskies. He oversaw Washington’s recruiting efforts, coached catchers and ran the Huskies’ offense during games.

Washington’s recruiting classes were ranked in the top 30 nationally six times by Collegiate Baseball. The Huskies ranked in the top 12 nationally in home runs each season from 2003-06. Players coached by Ross account for 79 percent of the spots in the Huskies’ single-season top 10 for at bats, batting average, doubles, hits, home runs, runs, RBI, stolen bases, triples and walks.

Ross earned his bachelor’s degree in 1982 and his master’s degree in 1986, both from Wisconsin-River Falls. He and his wife, Laurence, have two sons, Alex and Luke.